Terror fears at Commonwealth summit

The Maltese security services fear that terrorists may attempt to target the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit this month, the Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

Senior police officers and members of the island's security services have been liaising with MI5 and Scotland Yard in an attempt to disrupt any planned attacks, Whitehall officials revealed.

Concern heightened that the bi-annual summit may be targeted by an Islamic terrorist cell after a former Israeli army officer appeared on Maltese television claiming that a Sudanese refugee was planning an attack.

The former officer, who has security contacts, said he believed that a terrorist cell had established itself in the capital, Valletta, after entering as illegal immigrants.

The claim, which became known to British security officials, heightened fears that terrorists may attempt to attack the hundreds of Commonwealth dignitaries - including the Queen and Tony Blair - due to attend the conference.

A source close to the Maltese security service said that the authorities were seeking a Sudanese refugee in his mid-twenties, suspected of links to al-Qaeda. The man was said to have lived on the island for a year before police raided his home last month, but was now in Italy.

Investigators were said to have raided his flat in St Paul's Bay, and to have found military training videos and maps. Police denied the claims and one senior officer said he had "no recollection" of any such case.

Police and security agencies are aware, however, that any attack during the three-day summit would represent a significant coup for a terrorist organisation.

Malta has become the subject of increased attention from British, American and Italian intelligence officials because it is used as a staging post for boats smuggling illegal immigrants from North and sub-Saharan Africa to the European mainland. Among them are thought to be small groups of Arab and African Islamic radicals.

The official said: "MI5 has been in contact with Commonwealth security services and has been liaising and sharing intelligence in the build-up to the conference.

" Scotland Yard has also sent a joint police and military team to advise on anti-terrorist operations and diplomatic security measures.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the aircraft carrier Illustrious would be on hand in Maltese waters during the event.

It is understood that a six-man team from the Special Boat Service will be on board in case of terrorist incidents involving British officials, and to help to guard it from suicide attacks by speedboats.

The Queen will open the summit on November 25 and about 3,000 delegates representing almost one third of the world's population are expected to attend what will be the biggest meeting of international leaders ever held in Malta.

It is a huge challenge for Maltese security. British forces are providing training and expertise, but Vincent Fean, the British high commissioner, said security during the summit would be exclusively in Maltese hands.

The last summit in Malta was when George Bush Snr and Mikhail Gorbachev officially called an end to the Cold War in 1989.